Process of transforming alternating currents into continuous currents, and vice versa.



No. 655,238. Patented Aug. 7, I900. M. HUTIN & M. LEBLANC. PROCESSOF TBANSFORNIING ALTERNATING CURRENTS INTO CONTINUOUS CURRENT AND VICE VERSA.

(N I d I (Application filed May 29, 1900.)

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Patnted Aug. 7, 1900.

No. 655,238. I

M. HUTIN & M. LEBLANO. PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING ALTERNATING OURBENTS INTO CONTINUOUS OURRENTS AND VICE VERSA.

, (Application filed May 29, 1900.)

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No. 655,238. Patented Aug. 7, I900.

M. HUTIN & M. LEBLANC.

PROCESS OF TBANSFOBNIING ALTERNATING CURBENTS INTO CONTINUOUS CUBBENTS AND VICE VERSA.

(Application filed May 29, 1900.) (N0 lln flh) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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No. 655,238. l atented Aug. 7, 1900.

' m. HUTIN & m. LEBLANC.

PROCESS OF TRANSFURIMNG ALTERNATING CURBENTS INTO CONTINUOUS CURRENTS,

AND VICE VEBSA.

(Application filed May 29, 1900.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

(No Model.)

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PATENT @rFIcE,

MAURICE HUTIN AND MAURICE LEBLANO, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNORS TO THE SOOIETE ANONYME POUR LA TRANSMISSION DE LA FORCE PAR LELEOTRICITE, or SAME PLACE.

PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING ALTERNATING CURRENTS INTO CONTINUOUS CURRENTS, AND VICE VERSA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,238, dated. August 7, 1900.

Original application filed April 28, 1899, Serial No. 714,835. Divided and this application filed May 29, 1900. Serial No.

18,403- (No specimens.)

T0 at whom it molly concern:

Be it known that We, MAURICE IIUTIN and -MAURICE LEBLANC, citizens of the Republic of France, and residents of Paris, in the Re-. public of France, have invented certain new nating currents are monophase, the currents which we derive therefrom are unidirectional in character, but undulating or varying in intensity. When, however, the alternating currents are biphase or polyphase, the currents obtained therefrom are not only unidirectional, but also constant in quantity. It is therefore proposed in said patent, when monophase alternating currents are to be transformed into continuous currents, that a condenser or other means be employed in order to break up the monophase currents into a biphase or polyphase current.

A principal object of the process of the present invention is to transform a monophase alternating current into a unidirectional continuous current of uniform intensity without the necessity of using condensers or the like.

Let us now consider the case in which biphase currents are to be transformed into continuous currents in accordance with the means described in our former patent. We may say that such means as there described consist, essentially, of two magnetic cores, oneof which carries a primary coil subjected to the action of one of the' biphase currents and the other of which carries a primary coil subjected to the action of the other of the biphase currents. Each of these magnetic cores also carries a sectional secondary winding, the number of turns of the sections of which vary according to a sinusoidal law. These sections are connected to each other and to the plates of a commutator. Under such circumstances a continuous current is supplied by brushes bearing on the commutator.

Now it is the object of our present invention to convert a monophase alternating current into a continuous current by an arrangement somewhat similar to that just outlined; but instead of having a primary coil on each magnetic core We employ one primary coil in the line of the monophase circuit on one magnetic core, and we use, instead of the other primary coil on the second magnetic core, a moving conductor taking its electrical energy from the secondary or continuous current side of the apparatus, which moving indoctor We arrange to have all the effects of a primary coilthat is to say, this inductor is so arranged that it develops at each instant a number of ampere-turns equal in amount but of opposite sign with the algebraic sum of the number of ampere-turns developed in the secondary circuit, and it furthermore develops at each instant a number of ampereturns capable of engendering the necessary inductor-flux in the core. It will be seen, therefore, that a cardinal feature of our invention lies in substituting, in an alternatingcontinuous-current transformation process, for the action of the primary coil thereof, the action of a moving inductor which conveys to the core all of the energy which it requires, being both that represented by the secondary currents and that represented by the magnetic excitation of the core, and these in the proper time relation. Looking at this in an other way, it is clear when We transform an alternating current, which varies in magnitude from time to time, into a continuous current, which is constant in magnitude, that it is necessary to store up energy in some part of the system when the alternating current is above the average in intensity and to give up such energy at the time when the alternating current is below the average in inten-. sity. With the present invention'such stored energy is represented by the kinetic energ of motion of the moving inductor.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a diagram of the circuit arrangements of our prior patentv Fig. 2 shows a diagram of our moving ing to that value are wound in one direction. inductor and the secondary winding of the There the table indicates a negative value, core on which it acts. Fig. 3 shows a more it means that the turns corresponding to that 5 complete crosssectional view of the inductor. value are wound in the opposite direction. Fig. 4 shows an end elevation of an actual constructionadopted for theinductor and the m m H core on which it acts. Fig. 5 shows an end Numbel O1 Z1-c..%t elevation of the same, and Fig. 6 shows a gigifififififi 4 ag o e circuit o ec s as 0 Around col-err A. lAroundcoreA'D. templated by our present invention.

It will be advisable to describe in outline 1 n @Sin 0 NOS 0 the means for transforming a biphase alter- 2 V mm 1 "I Min nating current into a continuous current, as 5,, contemplated by our prior patent and as in- 3 mm TL dicatedin Fig. 1. Around two magnetic cores A B A B we dispose two identical primary (P4) 11 (1H1) i" circuits P P, one of which is branched between the conductors of the currents of one Whl) 7r 5 phase and the other of which is branched between the eonductors of the current of the other phase. The secondary circuits around The manner of connecting the windings or the two magnetic cores are arranged in seethe sections of the secondary circuits among tion, as indicated by the zigzag lines of Fig. 1. themselves and to the plates of the commu- There are 2 n such circuits, one half on one tator is indicated with elea-rness in Fig. 1. core and the other half on the other core. The 1f the two brushes F F press simultanenumber of turns in each of the sections varies ously upon the contacts of the collector 01 according to a sinusoidal law which is indiorder p and p 02, one sees immediately that cated in the following table, where v is a conthe circuit which connects these two brushes stant representing a number of turns. Such in surrounding the cores A 13 and A B earwindings maythereforebecalledsinusoidal ries a number N of turns around the core windings. Where the table indicates a posi- A B and a number N of turns around the tive value, it means that the turns correspondcore A B, such that 1: N :o{[sin.p +sin. (p-{ 1) g+.........sin. (p+ n 1);}

7Z' 72 7E N o [00s. 1) cos. (p 1) .cos. (1) 12 1) from which l ,7 N eos. (p 1}) 77 I)? 7r N s1n.(p

Let us suppose that the brushes make a 2; turns per second around the collector. The Z T 7; 2 7; a [1 number 1) will then increase regularly by 3111' T 2 a it per second. One may put 1) 2 1r at and the expression for the number of turns N and N becomes N 7: sin. 2 7r a I 2 )L N ;O0S27I((1r/ sin. 1 n

n It the magnetic cores A B and A 13 are then the seat of flux variations as all the turns sur- I rounding the core A B are the seat of electro- N2 Sim i 2 1h) motive force h 7% cos. 2 7: a 6, and all the L n turns surrounding the core A 13 are the seat of electromotive force 71 h sin. 2 7r a t, or, more simply, by changing the origin of the total electromotive force developed betime, tween the brushes will be 0 Since the electromotive' force thus obtained is constant, it follows that the problem is solved.

Now, as indicated above, our prior patent also contemplated the transformation of a monophase current into a continuous current by first splitting up the monophase current into biphase currents and then transforming the biphase currents into a continuous current, in accordance with the plan indicated in Fig. 1; but in order to split a monophase current into a biphase current it is necessary to use condensers or other objectionable devices.

A main object of our present invention is, as was above pointed out, to transform monophase current into continuous currents without the necessity of first splitting it up into a biphase current. In other words, our present invention, while under one aspect still using the action or operation of two magnetic cores, such as A B and A B, and of a primary coil P on one of these cores, dispenses with the action of the primary coil P on the other core and substitutes therefor the action of a moving inductor which is intended to perform all of the ofices of the primary coil P, but which, instead of being electrically energized from the alternating-current side of the line, receives its electrical energy from the constant-current side of the line.

If we examine Fig. 6, which shows a diagram of an electrical system for carrying out our present invention, we find one core A B on which there is a primary coil P, which receives current from the line Z Z. This line Z Z is supposed to carry a monophase alternating current. Upon the core A B are Wound a number of sections of a secondary circuit N. The number of turns of these sections, of which six are shown, vary according to the sinusoidal law given in the above table. This is indicated by the varying sizes of the rectangles which show the secondary sections. Upon the core A B are wound a corresponding number of sections of a secondary circuit N, the number of turns of each of which also vary according to a sinusoidal law. The sections of the secondary circuits are connected between themselves, as indicated, and they are also connected to brushes which bear on the rings 0, 0 to c, as shown. It is also to be understood that the ring 0 is connected by a wire (not shown) to one plate of the commutator G, that the ring 0 is connected by a wire (not shown) to the next plate of the commutator G, and so on, the plate 0 being connected bya wire (not shown) to the remaining plate of the commutator G.

It will be noticed that the core A B carries no primary winding, such as is carried by the core A B. In its place we use a movplanes of which are at right angles to each other. The coil J is of coarse wire and is connected in a series circuit with the line L L, the current passing from the lead L through the coil J, back through the brush F to the brush F and thence to the lead L. On the other hand, it will be seen that the coil j is connected in shunt of the brushes F F by means of the conductorsjj Finally, we notice that the pole-pieces p p carry coils which are in series with each other and which are in parallel with the line Z Z, carrying the monophase current. These polepieces 19, carrying an alternating current, act upon the inductor I, the coils of which carry a continuous current after the fashion of a monophase synchronous motor, and turn the inductor I with a velocity which is proportional to the speed of synchronism.

In reading the diagram of Fig. 6 it is to be understood that the shaft 0 0 carries the ring 0' 0 &c., the commutator G, and the inductor I.

The system which we have just described and which is shown in Fig. 6 is in all essential respects, except one, like the system of Fig. 1. This, as is sufficiently indicated above and as was fully demonstrated in our prior patent, acts to transform a biphase current into a continuous current. The one diiference between the system of Fig. 6 and the system of Fig. 1 lies in the substitution of the moving inductor I for the primary coil P. We now propose to show that the moving in ductor I acts in all respects like the primary coil P. It will follow, therefore, that the system of Fig. 6 acts like the system of Fig. 1, and thus transforms an alternating current into a continuous current.

To show that the moving inductor I of Fig. 6 is the counterpart in its operation of the stationary primary coil P of Fig. 1, we have to consider what offices this primary coil P effects. As is Well known, the office of such a primary coil of a transformer is of a double character. Such primary coildoes two things. It develops, first, at each instant a number of ampere-turns equal in amount but of opposite sign with the algebraic sum of the number of ampere-turns developed in the secondary circuit, and it develops, second, at each instant a number of ampere-turns capable of engendering the necessary inductor-fiux in the magnetic core. It is also well known that the variations of these quantities are displaced by a quarter of a period with respect to each other. Put in other words, it means that the primary coil of a transformer generates electrical energy corresponding to but of opposite sign with the electrical energy in the secondary circuit, which we may designate as the secondary-circuit energy, and, furthermore, that it develops the electrical energy necessary to magnetize the core, which we may design ate as the magnetization energy, the variations of these two forms of energy ing inductor I, which carries two coils, the d being displaced by ninety degrees. The sum total of these energies we may designate as the energy of transformation. If the inductor I performs the two oflices above specified, it follows that the problem of our present invention has been solved; but the inductor I carries a coil J, which is in series with the line L L, which line under uniform load is supposed to carry a continuous current. The number of turns of the coil J may manifestly be taken as such that the number of am pere-tu rns represented by this coil when it is traversed by the continuous current on the line L L shall be the maximum number of ampere-turns developed by the secondary circuit around the core A 3. The coil J is rotating at the velocity of synchronism about the axis 0. Its action upon the secondary circuit on the core A B is a given quantity when the coil is in a position as shown, with its plane at right angles to the axis of the core. As the coil rotates and makes an angle with this plane its eifect upon the core and secondary circuit varies from moment to m oment in proportion to the cosine of the angle last mentioned. If the number of turns of the coil J be taken to properly represent the maximum number of ampere-turns developed by the secondary circuit around the core A B, it will also represent the proper number of am pere-turns from moment to moment as they vary from this maximum, because these vary in the secondary circuit in accordance with the sinusoidal fluctuations or undulations of the secondary current. This shows us then that the coil J on the inductor I performs the principal office (first) of the primary coil P. It remains to show that the coil j on the inductor I performs the other oiiice (second) of furnishing the energy for the inductor-flux in the core A B.

As is well known, the variations of the mag netizing-fluX and of the current-flow in the secondary circuit are ninety degrees apart. lVe therefore displace the coil j ninety degrees with respect to the coil J. Again, other things being equal, a variation of the magnetic flux causes a corresponding variation of the electromotive force in a secondary coil on which it acts, and vice versa. lVe therefore mount the coilj in shunt with the brushes F F Since these present a constant difference of electromotive force, it is plain that the action of the coil jwhen it is at its maximum may be made equal to that required for generating the maximum magnetization of the core A B. It is furthermore evident that since the coil j rotates at the velocity of synchronism its action upon the core A B will vary according to the cosine of an angle which increases in accordance with the speed of synchronism; but this is precisely the law under which the magnetization of the core A B varies. It is thus seen that the coil J performs one of the two offices of the primary coil P and that the coilj performs the other office of the primary coil P, that the actions of these two coils have the proper time rela tion with reference to each other, and that therefore the inductor I is a perfect substitute for the coil 1 which means that the problem of the present invention is solved.

We have before referred to the pole-pieces p, the magnetic axis of which is at right angles to the axis of the core A B. These polepieces carry coils which are in series with each other and which are supplied with alternating currents from the line through the wires pp. They act to keep up the rotation of the inductor I in front of the core A B. In other words, these pole-pieces p furnish to the inductor I at each instant a quantity of work equal to that which its rotation communicates to the secondary circuit. Under these circumstances the inductor in passing under the pole-pieces p 19 takes from them a certain quantity of work, which it restores a quarter of a period afterward to the second ary circuits of the core A B.

What we have said above sufliciently explains the laws underlying our invention and the principles according to which it operates. Furthermore, the construction which is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. (3 is readily adapted for practical work. So far as that portion of the diagram of-Fig. 6 is concerned which is represented by the core A B and its appurtenances, we may say that nothing need be added to the construction there outlined in order to make it commercially efficient except what is found to be fully and clearly described in our prior patent. When we come to that part of Fig. 6 which is represented by the core A B and its appurtenances, we may say, although the construction shown in Fig. 6 is quite efficient, that we prefer in the commercial practice of our process to use the still more efficient construction shown in Figs. l and 5.

It will be understood, in a word, that the construction which is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 represents a piece of electrical apparatus which may be used, when we come to commercially practice the process of this application, instead of that portion of Fig. 6 which is represented by the core A B and the parts directly connected therewith. The core A B of Figs. 4 and 5, which is closed upon itself, is constructed of laminated sheet-iron, notched as shown at a b c. This core carries bobbins N, N N, to N", which correspond to the bobbin N of Fig. (3. Now as the electrical connections which are necessary in our invention are fully indicated in Fig. 6 it would manifestly only cause confusion to again attempt to show them in Figs. 4 and 5. We therefore content ourselves with pointing out the corresponding electrical circuits and the mechanical features of the apparatus which enable the electrical circuits to be connected in the proper manner.

It is to be understood that the core N is wound with twelve sections of wire, the number of turns of the several sections having a sinusoidal relation with each other. It is to be understood also that each of the other coils N N, &c., is also wound with twelve sinusoidal sections corresponding exactly to those of the core N. Now all of the like sections of the six coils N N, &c., are connected, either in series or in parallel, to form twelve groups of sections. One sees immediately that the variations oif flux, of which these different circuits are the seat, are all of the same phase, and in consequence it this phase be properly chosen they will be the seat of the same electromotive forces as if they had covered the core A B and had constituted a part of the rectifying-tramsformer for biphase currents described in our prior patent.

We have described each of the cores N N as wound with twelve sections of wire, the number of turns of which bear a sinusoidal relation to each other. Manifest-1y any other number of turns would answer. Attention is called to the fact that the diagram of Fig. 6 contemplates a winding having six sections, in which case there are but six rings 0 c on the commutator-shaft connected therewith. Since the construction of Fig. 4 contemplates twelve sections to a coil and twelve groups of sections to the core, it follows that there must be twelve collector-rings c 0 as sufficiently appears in Fig. 5.

By using six coils N, N to N arranged around the core A B, we see that we obtain a corresponding number of poles on the core. The construction of Fig. A is therefore a multipolar construction.

In the notches a b, the, in the core A B we place the windings of an asynchronous alternating-current machine n, n 71 to W, the windings being arranged in such a manner that the poles developed by them lie between the poles developed by the bobbins N, N to N. The circuits formed by the windings n 12 &c., correspond to the circuit surrounding the pole-piece p in Fig. 6. Ourrent is conveyed thereto either from the alternating-current leads of the system or from a special secondary circuit disposed around the core A B. It has not been considered necessary to show the binding-posts for these connections in Fig. 4: or Fig. 5.

In the interior of the ring-form core A B of Fig. 4 we mount a rotatable ring 0 D. In notches along the periphery of this ring we locate a series of copper bolts a Ct a, situated in a region as near as possible to the airspace. The extremities of these bolts are all connected between themselves by two copper circles situated on each side of the ring 0 D. These bolts, which are of low resistance, thus create a magnetic screen, which envelops the inductor of the motor and whichinsures a synchronous motion. The ring or inductor O D also carries two crossed or displaced windings, the one, B, represented by full lines and the other, S, represented by dotted lines. These two windings are like those of the inductor of a synchronous motor for biphase currents;

but the one is built of coarse wire and the other is built of fine wire. The coarse-wire coil, it is plain, corresponds to the coil J of Fig. 6, and the fine-wire coil corresponds to the coilj of Fig. 6. rent to these rotating windings R S, we employ three rings u o 12 mounted upon the axis 0 0, which rings are connected with the windings S R by wires passing along the axis 0 o. The three brushes which bear upon these three rings are connected to the line and to the brushes F F in the manner sufiiciently indicated in Fig. 6. It will be seen from Fig. 6 that the wiresjj j j, which convey current to the coils J j, are of such nature that one of them may serve as a common return for the others. This, therefore, is the reason why three rings and brushes 4) v o are sufticient to convey current to the rotating windings S R, which correspond to the coils Jj.

The rings 0', 0 to c of Fig. 5 correspond to those which have like letters and are shown in Fig. 6. These rings are respectively connected to the plates of the commutator D, mounted on the shaft 0 0. The brushes which bear on the rings 0' 0 &c., on the other hand, are connected to the wires which go to the two sets of sinusoidal windings of the secondary circuits, as is fully indicated in Fig. 6. No good purpose would be subserved by showing these wires in Fig. 5.

It is manifest that instead of having but twelve plates on the commutator E we may employ thirty-six plates, in which case a group of three plates one hundred and twenty degrees apart would be connected to each other and to the corresponding ring 0. Looking at this in another way, we should have twelve consecutive plates on the coinmutator E connected to the rings 0', 0 to 0 we should then have twelve more consecutive plates on the commutator E respectively connected to these rings 0 0 &c., and we should finally have a third group of twelve plates on this commutator so connected to the rings. The stationary brushes f for taking oft continuous currents would in this last case be sixty degrees apart instead of one hundred and eighty degrees apart.

Summarizing what we have said about the construction of Figs. et and 5 compared with the diagram of our invention as given in Fig. 6, we see that the core A B of Fig. 5 corresponds to the similarly-lettered core of Fig. 6; that the windings N N 850., of Fig. 5 correspond to the sinusoidal windings N of Fig. 6; that the inductor C D,with its windings S R, of Fig. 4 corresponds to the inductor I, with its coils J j, of Fig. 6; that the rings 0 c of Fig. 5 correspond to those with like letters in Fig. 6; that the wiresj j j 7' of Fig. 6 for conveying current to the coils J j correspondto wires (not shown) connected with brushes bearing on the rings 1; o v and that the alternating-current-motor coils p of Fig. 6 correspond to the coils n 17. M, &c. ,on the cores A B of Fig. 4. It will be seen, in a word, that Figs.

In order to convey cur- 5 and 5 show a mechanical construction corresponding to the core A B of Fig-G and its appurtenances. The circuit connections are not indicated in Figs. e and 5, but are fully shown in Fig. 6. It is also clear that instead of having the commutator in Fig. 6 rotate and the brushes which bear on it stationary we may reverse this arrangement and use a construction in which the brushes rotate and the commutator is iiXed.

As the action of processes of the kind de scribed in the present specification is reversible, it follows that we can use the process to transform continuous currentsinto alternating currents by feeding such continuous currents into the brushes f, whereupon alternating current may be taken from the lead Z Z. \Vherever, then, we make a claim specifying that alternating currents are to be transformed into continuous currents, it is to be understood that the claim covers the same process when used to transform continuous currents into alternating currents. We have not attempted to draw two claims for the same process by specifying its use first for performing one of these operations and then for performing the inverse other operation.

This application is a division of our application SerialNo. 714,835, filed April 28, 1890.

tVhat we claim is 1. The process of transforming alternating currents flowing along alternating-current mains into continuous current flowing along continnous-current mains which consists in charging an inductor from the continuouscurrent main and rotating the inductor with reference to a magnetic core carrying secondary windings and thereby supplying thereto either part of the energy of transformation, substantially as described.

2. In the transformation of alternating into continuous currents, the process which consists in charging an inductor in series fashion from the continuous-current side of the line and rotating the inductor with reference to a magnetic core carrying secondary windings and thereby supplying thesecondary-circuit energy of the transformation, substantially as described.

8. In the transformation of alternating into continuous currents, the process which consists in charging an inductor shunt fashion from the continuous-current side of the line and rotating the ind uetor with reference to a magnetic core carrying secondary windings and thereby supplying the magnetization energy for the core, substantially as described.

I. In the transformation of alternating into continuous currents, the process which consists in charging an inductor, carrying displaced series and shunt windings from the continuous-current side of the line and rotating the inductor with reference to a magnetic core carrying secondary windings and thereby supplying thereto the energy of transformation, substantially as described.

5. In the transformation of alternating into continuous currents, the process which consists in charging an inductor from the continuous-current side of the line, and rotating the inductor, with reference to a magnetic core carrying secondary windings, by means of energy derived from the alternating-current side of the line, whereby part of the energy of transformation is supplied to the sec ondary windings, substantially as described.

(5. In the transformation of alternating into continuous currents, the process which consists in charging an inductor carrying series and shunt coils from the continnous-current side of the line, and rotating the inductor, with reference to a magnetic core carrying secondary windings, by means of energy derived from the alternating-current side of the line, whereby the energy of transformation is supplied to the secondary windings, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

MAURICE 'IIUTIN. MAURICE LEBLANO. \Vitnesses as to Maurice Hutin:

ED LAMPRE, JOHN J. TIERNEY. Witnesses as to Maurice Leblanc:

EDWARD P. MAcLEAN, ALBERT DELOS. 

